Patna (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sebastian Kallupura, Archbishop
William D’Souza, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 16 March 1999
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 25,821 (9,973 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://archdiocesepatna.blogspot.com/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, Bankipore P.O., Ashok Rajpath, Patna-800004, Bihar, India
Telephone: (0612)267.7711

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Bettiah
- Erected: 1892
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Patna
- Name Changed: 1917
- Country: India
Diocese of Patna
- Latin Name: Patnensis
- Elevated: 10 September 1919
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ranchi
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Hilarion (Johannes Baptist) Valentin, O.F.M. Cap. † ( 1892 Appointed - 1910 Resigned)
Eugen Remigius Schwarz, O.F.M. Cap. † ( 1914 Appointed - Feb 1918 Died)
Louis Van Hoeck, S.J. † (20 Jul 1920 Appointed - 15 Feb 1928 Appointed, Bishop of Ranchi)
Bernard James Sullivan, S.J. † (15 Jan 1929 Appointed - 4 Jun 1946 Resigned)
Augustine Francis Wildermuth, S.J. † (12 Jun 1947 Appointed - 6 Mar 1980 Retired)
Benedict John Osta, S.J. † (6 Mar 1980 Appointed - 1 Oct 2007 Retired)
William D’Souza, S.J. (1 Oct 2007 Appointed - 9 Dec 2020 Resigned)
Sebastian Kallupura (9 Dec 2020 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bettiah
1892	Erected	Diocese of Allahabad	Prefecture Apostolic of Bettiah (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Patna
1917	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Bettiah	Vicariate Apostolic of Patna
Diocese of Patna
10 September 1919	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Patna	Diocese of Patna
4 January 1931	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Godda along with Deoghaz and Sarawan)	Diocese of Patna
3 August 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Patna (Bhagalpur and Godda, Deogarh and Sarawan, along with Mandro Bungalow I, Mandro Bungalow II, and Mandro Hill Tract)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur (erected)
15 February 1965	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Patna (from Calcutta)
9 October 1970	Territory Lost	Diocese of Patna (Chakai Revenue Thana)	Diocese of Bhagalpur
6 March 1980	Territory Lost	Diocese of Patna (West Champaran, East Champaram, Gopan Ganj, Siwan, Saran, Vishali, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darhanga, Samastipur, Saharsha, and Begusarai)	Diocese of Muzaffarpur (erected)
7 October 1983	Territory Lost	Diocese of Patna (Nepal)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Nepal (erected)
Archdiocese of Patna
16 March 1999	Elevated	Diocese of Patna	Archdiocese of Patna
12 December 2005	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Patna (Buxar, Bhojpur, Bhabua, and Rohtas)	Diocese of Buxar (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Patna

1950 26,837 29,462,450 .1% 11 82 93 288 42 149 15 ap1951

1970 47,681 51,000,000 .1% 17 108 125 381 170 364 15 ap1971

1980 57,293 47,386,111 .1% 26 132 158 362 172 500 24 ap1981

1990 59,688 14,304,000 .4% 40 84 124 481 174 437 38 ap1991

Archdiocese of Patna

1999 66,110 27,255,119 .2% 52 98 150 440 179 506 46 ap2000

2000 67,153 2,780,022 2.4% 57 118 175 383 212 506 46 ap2001

2001 68,496 28,356,216 .2% 61 118 179 382 211 506 46 ap2002

2002 69,865 29,490,465 .2% 65 122 187 373 216 526 46 ap2003

2003 71,262 30,080,274 .2% 64 128 192 371 222 542 46 ap2004

2004 72,687 30,681,879 .2% 59 128 187 388 210 555 46 ap2005

2005 54,120 24,709,333 .2% 57 108 165 328 34 463 33 bul12Dec2005

2013 63,944 32,062,662 .2% 53 88 141 453 133 490 33 ap2014

2016 66,761 34,991,000 .2% 61 94 155 430 169 525 33 ap2017

2019 67,700 36,309,000 .2% 64 95 159 425 176 585 36 ap2020

2021 68,620 36,934,520 .2% 64 80 144 476 105 360 36 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Patna
1950	26,837	29,462,450	.1%	11	82	93	288	42	149	15	ap1951
1970	47,681	51,000,000	.1%	17	108	125	381	170	364	15	ap1971
1980	57,293	47,386,111	.1%	26	132	158	362	172	500	24	ap1981
1990	59,688	14,304,000	.4%	40	84	124	481	174	437	38	ap1991
Archdiocese of Patna
1999	66,110	27,255,119	.2%	52	98	150	440	179	506	46	ap2000
2000	67,153	2,780,022	2.4%	57	118	175	383	212	506	46	ap2001
2001	68,496	28,356,216	.2%	61	118	179	382	211	506	46	ap2002
2002	69,865	29,490,465	.2%	65	122	187	373	216	526	46	ap2003
2003	71,262	30,080,274	.2%	64	128	192	371	222	542	46	ap2004
2004	72,687	30,681,879	.2%	59	128	187	388	210	555	46	ap2005
2005	54,120	24,709,333	.2%	57	108	165	328	34	463	33	bul12Dec2005
2013	63,944	32,062,662	.2%	53	88	141	453	133	490	33	ap2014
2016	66,761	34,991,000	.2%	61	94	155	430	169	525	33	ap2017
2019	67,700	36,309,000	.2%	64	95	159	425	176	585	36	ap2020
2021	68,620	36,934,520	.2%	64	80	144	476	105	360	36	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Benedict John Osta, S.J. † (Bishop: 6 Mar 1980; Archbishop: 16 Mar 1999 to 1 Oct 2007)
Eugen Remigius Schwarz, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 1914 to Feb 1918)
Bernard James Sullivan, S.J. † (Bishop: 15 Jan 1929 to 4 Jun 1946)
Hilarion (Johannes Baptist) Valentin, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 1892 to 1910)
Louis Van Hoeck, S.J. † (Bishop: 20 Jul 1920 to 15 Feb 1928)
Augustine Francis Wildermuth, S.J. † (Bishop: 12 Jun 1947 to 6 Mar 1980)

Source(s)

Diocese of Patna
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 11, Page 456, and Page 457
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 371, and Page 372
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 338
Archdiocese of Patna
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 91, Page 596, and Page 597

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Archdiocese of Patna

Archidioecesis Patnensis